'Korea's No. 1' Park Min-ji 2 Under Par "Good Start"... 'Overseas Player' Jeon In-ji Tied 12th at 1 Over Par

Major KB Financial Star Championship 1R Hong Jeong-min Tied for Lead
Lee So-young 1 Under Par Tied 3rd, Park Ji-young and Ji Han-sol Even Par Tied 6th
Hole-in-One Jung Yoon-ji Tied 12th, Defending Champion Jang Ha-na Withdraws Due to Ankle Injury

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The 'No. 1 in Korea' Park Min-ji (24) is advancing toward a major victory.

Park Min-ji is teeing off at the 5th hole on the first day of the KB Financial Star Championship. Photo by KLPGA

On the 15th, Park Min-ji took the lead on the leaderboard with a 2-under-par round on the first day of the KB Financial Star Championship, a major KLPGA Tour event held at Blackstone Golf Club (par 72, 6,698 yards) in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, with a total prize money of 1.2 billion KRW. Doosan Match Play Championship winner Hong Jeong-min (20) is tied for first place, while Lee So-young (25), Seo Yeon-jeong (27), and Kim Min-ju (20) are tied for third place (1-under-par 71) in pursuit.

Park Min-ji recorded three birdies and one bogey. She reduced two strokes in the front nine with birdies on holes 2 and 7, and continued smoothly with an additional birdie on the 17th hole (par 4) in the back nine. However, on the final 18th hole (par 5), she made a bogey after her tee shot and third shot landed in the rough. Park Min-ji is currently leading the money list with three wins this year, ranking third in the points race and fourth in average score. She set the stage for her fourth win of the season and 14th career victory by sharing the lead with a one-stroke difference on the first day.

Park Min-ji said, "I think I kept about 10 out of 14 tee shots on the fairway, so the start was good," adding, "There is nothing to regret greatly, but I could have finished without a bogey, but I made a bogey on the last hole." She continued, "When you go into the rough, it is difficult to attack the pin, so keeping the fairway is the most important." Park said, "I will not be greedy until a birdie opportunity comes," and added, "I want to do my best and finish with a good result."

Jeon In-ji is hitting an iron shot on the 4th hole on the first day of the KB Financial Star Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Park Ji-young and Ji Han-sol (both 26), Kim Ji-hyun (31), Choi Hye-yong (32), and two others are tied for sixth place (even par 72) showing strong performances. Overseas player Jeon In-ji (28) started comfortably, tied for 12th place (1-over-par 73). She expressed her determination, saying, "Since this is the main sponsor's tournament, I have a strong desire to win," but also, "I will try to play without pressure." Jung Yoon-ji (22) recorded a hole-in-one on the 3rd hole (par 3) and joined the group tied for 12th place. Defending champion Jang Ha-na (30) withdrew due to an ankle injury.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.